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Testing the Footsteps App for Behavioral Health Support

This study is testing a smartphone app called "Footsteps" to see if it can improve how one-to-one aides collect information about children's behavior in schools. The goal is to see if better data collection leads to better mental health outcomes for young people (ages 4-17) with conditions like autism, ADHD, or oppositional defiant disorder. The study will look at whether the app helps aides collect data more consistently and on time, and if it improves communication between aides and their supervisors. We also want to see if using Footsteps leads to better scores on questionnaires like the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for the children receiving support. This study plans to enroll 200 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive a specific intervention (the Footsteps app). It is not specified if it's randomized or blinded, and it aims to enroll 200 participants.
What's involved
Aides will use the electronic platform to collect data throughout the 12-week trial. Youth mental health outcomes will be assessed monthly at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 12 weeks, with assessments at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07042347

Testing a Measurement Feedback App to Improve Data Quality, Supervision & Outcomes in Behavioral Health

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
University of Pennsylvania
~200 participants
Updated 2026-05-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Behavioral economics strategiesElectronic platform

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire total score
Measured over Assessed monthly (Baseline; Weeks 4, 8, and 12)
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Autism
Challenging Behavior
ADHD
Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Explore related trials

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderAutism Spectrum DisorderOppositional Defiant Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania1

Study leadership

  • Heather J Nuske, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pennsylvania
  • David Mandell, Sc.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pennsylvania

Who to contact

Heather J Nuske, PhD
[email protected]
(215) 746-6041
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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Aides must be working with at least one client in school who meets the following criteria: 1) between 3-17 years, 2) has a diagnosis associated with a challenging behavior (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder) as indicated on their treatment plan, and 3) receiving 1:1 aide support.
Supervisors must be employed by a community behavior health agency and supervise a participating aide. The investigators will recruit supervisors in dyads and not triads (i.e., no supervisors with two \[or more\] aides) to ensure there are 30 supervisor-aide dyads in total).

Exclusion

Aides who participated in the pilot trial of the Footsteps will be excluded from participating to recruit a sample naïve to Footsteps and the control app.

What this trial measures

  • Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire total scoreAssessed monthly (Baseline; Weeks 4, 8, and 12)

    A behavioral screening tool used to assess psychological attributes in children and adolescents, leading to a total score of 0 to 40. A higher total score indicates greater difficulties in emotional and behavioral functioning, while lower scores suggest fewer difficulties.

  • Data collection consistencyAssessed throughout 12-week trial

    an aggregate of the numbers of intervals scheduled, and the numbers of those intervals in which data was entered (% real time data)

  • Data collection timelinessAssessed throughout 12-week trial

    for intervals in which data was entered, the time lag between occurrence and data entry